Difficult to know which date to run with but given Wednesday’s current position, the plot of Julius Caesar edges it.

Back-stabbing, all the injuries, conspiracy theories and false news reports; simmering tensions, with the crowd turning on their former heroes. It’s as if Shakespeare was channeling 2017-18 in S6.

Boyd rates our 150th year as “the most disappointing season in [his] career.”

The winger’s free transfer from Burnley was viewed as a neat piece of work last summer, until he became an early entry in volume one of the Owls’ injury ledger.

Being out between September and January is good reason for him to press fast forward to a fresh start in 2018-19.

Be careful what you wish for.

If this season has shown us anything, it’s that players in their early thirties can lose their pace, touch and confidence at an alarmingly fast rate.

We can all name current servants of the club whose powers are on the wane, with some sadness that they are ending their careers against a soundtrack of twitter boo boys.

Will the 32-year-old Boyd buck this trend and make a difference next season? Having seen so little of him playing in his preferred role, it’s impossible to say. He agrees.

“You’re not going to get the best of me at wing back,” he says. “It’s hard work, a lot of running… but I feel I’ve got the energy to do it.”

Boyd: revealed he is less comfortable at wing back

The number 21 is certainly confident next year will be different, even going so far as to claim, “the squad we’ve got can mount a serious promotion push.” George, don’t do that!

In the meantime, Jos must mount a gentle survival push.

There are so many examples of teams that were ‘too good to go down’ and yet still managed to achieve that thing – Forest, Newcastle, Villa, and our hosts on Saturday included.

On recent form Wednesday are not ‘too good to go down’, but we are blessed with sitting above at least three clubs whose form is even worse than ours.

As the clock ticks, the opportunities for any of these to leapfrog the Owls are lessening. But as long it’s mathematically possible we can obsess about it.

Boyd and others suggest two or three more wins will see us safe. “We’ll get it done as quick as we can,” he says.

Starting on Saturday?

Searching for momentum

“The remaining games are all winnable…”

Yes. But.

Having started his tenure with a draw against our city rivals, Luhukay has managed to coach just one league win out of his squad.

In fairness, gaining points from top six Cardiff, Derby and Middlesbrough was creditable. The lack of success in games that most would join Boyd in rating as ‘winnable’ has been beyond frustrating.

Last weekend’s draw with Bolton is a case in point.

The sucker punch last minute equaliser took any spring out of bringing our four-game losing streak to an end.

Boyd concedes “we should have seen [the match] out… We should have had enough.”

This is where the conspiratorial whispering in ears begins, again.

Why don’t we have enough? Injuries, contracts, shady deals.

Questions about Caesar’s, I mean Luhukay’s, qualifications to rule.

“The noblest Chairman of them all?”

Brutus/Chansiri finds letters in his house apparently written by Roman/Sheffield citizens worried that Caesar/(quite a few candidates here), has become too powerful.

It really is the stuff of drama. To bring some perspective, if you think Wednesday’s 2017-18 has been bad, Caesar’s 44 BC really didn’t end well.

I imagine he was grateful he didn’t have to face Leeds at Elland Road though.

Saturday

According to the popular ditty, we all hate Leeds. So that’s good. Something to bring us all together rather than fighting amongst ourselves. Hmm.

Back in October we beat the Whites 3 – 0 with goals from Hooper (2) and Lee. Remember them? Jos doesn’t.

He hasn’t had the luxury of considering these injured stalwarts in his two months at the helm.

Today we learn the new boss’s willingness to play young talent has also taken a blow, with the impressive Sean Clare ruled out for the rest of the season by an ankle injury.

You’ve got to feel for JL as he half fills his glass with updates on the imminent return of Bannan, Hutchinson and van Aken.

Strangers can be lovers again: rumours of a return for Hutch at Leeds continue

As one by one the wounded return to the fray, Jos focuses on the opportunities for players to show their skills, compete for places and give him options as a coach.

And having remarked on how the crowded fixture list has hampered his ability to spend time on training and tactics, the coach has had a full week with his players to learn from the disappointment of last weekend.

Does he agree with Boyd’s assessment that “tiredness” came into play against Bolton? Not really.

The boss thinks the game should have been wrapped up long before our 93rd minute defensive lapse.

His tactical white board will have a fair few arrows in the final third, where with typical openness he declares his side “did not make good decisions.”

The opportunities were there to cross the ball and use set pieces but, in his words, and before the fans eyes, “the ball goes everywhere.”

More incision in the final third required

Including the proverbial Row Z on too many occasions.

And he’s analysed the opposition as well. Praising their “unbelievable intensity” and reeling off the stats on goals and assists.

Boyd and Luhukay agree that both teams need a win. In short, Leeds have managed their traditional flirtation with the top six followed by a slow slide down the table, but this is a Yorkshire derby.

All bets are off other than it will be a blood and thunder affair. And Hutchinson may be fit enough to make the team sheet.

Jos understands the importance of this fixture to the fans – “you must give everything you have” he says.

Followed swiftly by “we must not give the ball away” and “we must take our chances.”

That just about covers it. Two middling teams battling it out. In his disarmingly straightforward way, Luhukay declares, “the position in the league is not lying.”

Shakespeare couldn’t attend the press conference, but he sent this message:

“There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune…”

The popular podcast has delivered over 160 episodes and this particular hour serves as a follow up to ‘FFP explained’ – a January recording that explored Financial Fair Play and its implications for Wednesday.

This week’s edition, featuring James Allen of Owls Americast and TWW regular James Marriott, looks at the recent publishing of the club accounts and their implications for Wednesday going forward.

As well some significant number crunching, Peter offers his thoughts on strategy going forward, warning Wednesdayites that at least one season of consolidation is required.

Technicalities such as player amortisation are explained, as well as some common FFP loopholes that could see the club meet regulations by the very skin of their teeth.

Peter summarises the coming summer as follows:

“We will need to sell players.

“But it won’t be a firesale if we do it right.

“And maybe the change of strategy, that has been forced upon us, if for the better anyway: building the foundations of success, bringing through youngsters and signing players in the early part of their careers, instead of spending all that money on has-beens.”

Could Chansiri go hell-for-leather this summer in one final attempt at promotion? Or could the unthinkable happen and Wednesday suffer relegation? What happens then?

You can answer all these questions and more by listening to the The Wednesday Week – click here.

]]>http://www.owlsalive.com/featured/2018/03/06/wednesday-week-ffp/feed/0PREVIEW | Wednesday -v- Ipswich Townhttp://www.owlsalive.com/rambles/2018/03/06/preview-wednesday-ipswich/
http://www.owlsalive.com/rambles/2018/03/06/preview-wednesday-ipswich/#respondTue, 06 Mar 2018 08:37:56 +0000http://www.owlsalive.com/?p=20257Since the victory over Derby County – a victory and performance that we hoped would prove to be a turning point – Wednesday have lurched from crisis to crisis.

Four defeats and a 0-0 draw with Swansea followed the victory over the Rams, Wednesday have conceded ten goals in our last three defeats.

Two away non-performances have sandwiched a spirited effort against Villa.

Costly basic errors continue to the thwart the team.

A further slide down the Championship table is only averted due to the sheer ineptitude of other sides around us.

Back to on-field issues shortly, but first, a look at the news that has compounded the three defeats: the club’s financial statements for last season were released on Friday.

Although many are happy to point out that Wednesday’s minus figures are relatively steady compared to some rivals, it is now wholly apparent that major restructuring is needed – who knew?! – and that the club is absolutely reliant on the continued life-support of the chairman.

The balance sheets make for grim reading. Losses total £20.7m and net debt has risen to a Lee Strafford-era £36m. Fortunately, this debt is exclusively owed to Dejphon Chansiri, rather than the Co-Op bank who were of course the major creditor in the good old days.

There is no sugar coating the fact that the club owes Chansiri a substantial amount of money and he is entitled to call receipt of it in as little as twelve months time.

#SWFC auditors noted material uncertainty about club’s ability to continue as going concern, though Chansiri confirmed financial support for at least next 12 months. Basically, club will be OK if he keeps putting in cash, but will almost certainly have to sell players for FFP.

Until then, and taking the chairman’s continued financial support for granted, the club is in serious danger of flouting the Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules set by the EFL.

Revenues are at an all time high: turnover has reached £23.4m, although this is dwarfed by the cumulative annual salary of £29.3m, meaning the club are spending 126% of turnover on a £524,000 per week wage bill.

Wednesday’s losses for the past two seasons total £30.4m, with FFP stipulating that losses of no more than £39m can be made over a three-year period.

With many of our highest earning players contracted beyond the end of this season, serious work has to be done in order to ensure that the club beats the FFP target.

Aside of Reach, Bannan and Hooper – who we cannot afford to lose – who would command a significant fee? Lees, Lee, Fletcher, Forestieri, Winnall and Westwood have all suffered long-term injuries, two are the wrong side of 30.

There is one FFP loop-hole, that money poured into long-term club investments and developments (academies, stadia, community initiatives) is discounted from losses, although the exact discount figure remains sketchy.

More detailed analyses of the accounts can be found on The Price of Football, The Swiss Ramble, and our very own Peter’s Twitter account, where his own in-depth financial analysis has allowed him to suggest some squad modifications for next season that will keep Wednesday in line with FFP.

A change in attitude?(Image: Daily Mail)

In short, significant changes are on the way. We’ve seen a gentle shift in our recruitment in the past twelve months: frees (Boyd) and cheap alternatives (Pelupessy, Fox).

Expect further increases to ticket prices as the club readies itself for falling attendances next season.

Our summer business will not inspire, unless Chansiri really gambles, a-la-Leicester City, who have just paid an out-of-court settlement to the EFL for £3.1m as a result of their own flouting of FFP in 2013-14. Such a gamble on the part of the chairman would be wholly inadvisable.

Returning to on-field concerns. Go and flick the kettle on. Or pour a gin.

The whole club is in limbo, waiting for our best players to return to aid in the fight against relegation.

Seven teams sit below Wednesday in the Championship table, for now.

Only Reading (7), Burton and Sunderland (both 9) have fewer points than Wednesday since Christmas (10).

Four teams have scored fewer over the same period – three sit below Wednesday, the other is our Tuesday opponent.

Only Sunderland and Birmingham – again both below Wednesday – have conceded more.

Barring any drastic changes in form to any more than three of the sides in 18th or below, the club will be saved by virtue of being less shite than others.

The Championship form table – transfermarkt.com

That said, the January draws quickly became February defeats. Even for this mostly young, inexperienced eleven, improvements have to be made. Some of the Wednesday defending on Saturday could have been lifted from It’s A Knockout.

City moved the ball around confidently, expressively, and directly. The porous Wednesday back-line simply rolled out the red carpet.

Wednesday had chances: Nuhiu should have hit the target twice while Lucas Joao fired wide after creating himself an opening.

Reid took his tally to 19 for the season [Image: Daily Mail]

By the time the Wednesday chances came, Bristol had us dead and buried. Josh Brownhill added a third to Bobby Reid’s first half brace.

Joey Pelupessy’s foul on Marlon Pack in the box saw Reid tuck the ball home from the spot to seal a memorable hat-trick.

Positives? A return for Tom Lees.

Ipswich’s last game was a 1-0 win at Deepdale on February 24th, their home fixture against Hull this Saturday was postponed.

This was far from classic McCarthy in the early stages, his Ipswich side took the game to a Preston side whose exhaustion was lamented by Alex Neil post-match.

Dangerous winger Mustapha Carayol netted his first goal for Ipswich since a January move from Forest, and from that point on Mad Mick’s Men battened down the hatches.

“We defended really well,” McCarthy said. I bet they did.

LAST 5

Bristol C. (A)

Swansea (A)

Villa (H)

Millwall (A)

Swansea (H)

WEDNESDAY

L 0-4

L 0-2

L 2-4

L 1-2

D 0-0

LAST 5

Preston (A)

Cardiff (H)

Norwich (A)

Burton (H)

Sunderland (A)

IPSWICH

W 1-0

L 0-1

D 1-1

D 0-0

W 2-0

HEAD 2 HEAD

WEDNESDAY WINS

IPSWICHWINS

DRAWS

18

19

13

LAST MEETING

Ipswich 2-2 Wednesday

22nd November 2017, Portman Road, Att: 15, 702

Wednesday came from behind twice to secure a point.

Glenn Loovens was lucky to escape an early red card for a high tackle on David McGoldrick, the only talking point from an otherwise quiet first half.

Ipswich capitalised on some poor Wednesday marking to take the lead through Joe Garner, only for former Norwich man Hooper to silence the home crowd as he equalised from the penalty spot just after the hour.

Town retook the lead again thanks to Martyn Waghorn, and Atdhe Nuhiu sent the travelling few home happy after nodding in at the back post in the 95th minute to secure a point.

The result left Wednesday in 11th, four points off the play-off places. Ha.

THE LUHUKAY STARS…

Daniel Pudil, Frederico Venancio and Lucas Joao are all fresh injury concerns ahead of this one and will face a late check.

Tom Lees returned to the first team with a second-half outing at Ashton Gate, he is likely to be included from the start against Ipswich, notwithstanding any further injury concerns.

Almen Abdi also made a comeback on Saturday but will presumably have suffered a further six injuries in the meantime.

Jordan Rhodes sat on the bench for the duration against Bristol City and will likely deputise for Lucas Joao should their be any concerns over the Portuguese.

Jack Hunt will miss out again with Liam Palmer filling in the right wing-back spot.

WILDSMITH

VENANCIO

LEES

LOOVENS

PALMER

ABDI

PELUPESSY

REACH

BOYD

NUHIU

RHODES

KEY PLAYER

TOM LEES – Returns to a side who are shipping goals for fun, in a shape he is unfamiliar with.

Wednesday need defensive solidity and leadership at the back as a matter of urgency.

Lees is comfortably our strongest defender despite suffering (pre-injury) his worst run of form in Sheffield.

Let’s hope that this freshly fit Lees is more akin to the defensive rock that enjoyed three record breaking seasons in blue and white.

His injury, and return, seems to have been well-managed. Let’s hope he’s fully over it and hasn’t been returned to action too soon.

THE BETTING BOX: 5 OF THE BEST

BET

WednesdayWIN

Ipswich WIN

DRAW

0-0

Nuhiu anytime

BEST ODDS

7/5

12/5

23/10

81/10

3/1

BOOKIES

HUGH’S VERDICT – It’s difficult to be positive after you’d suffered three consecutive league defeats and been dumped out the cup off the back of a limp performance.

Wednesday created two lovely goals against Villa but since then have looked largely toothless with the ball. The lack of confidence a number of players are showing in their own ability is frightening.

Big Mick will play on this and the Hillsborough crowd and exploit any early gaps. Jos Luhukay has promised that Wednesday will go for it in the early exchanges – is he posturing or does he really intend to throw men forward?

I would suggest that, like the Villa game, Wednesday need to ascertain a foothold first.

Compared to Mark Lawrenson’s tv commentary on the Swansea game – somewhere between life, death and wishing he was somewhere else – Jos seemed positively animated.

There was no post-mortem by the press, just some gentle prodding to assess how much life is left in Wednesday’s season.

A quick check of the vital signs isn’t too reassuring.

Yes, the Owls are still breathing the rarefied air of the Championship, but has the chairman got the heart to keep us there? The temperature is hotting up as we join the scramble for 50 points and ‘safety’.

And none of this is doing the fans’ blood pressure any good.

The manager was asked twice whether the task in hand was more difficult than he had anticipated.

Given he was hailed on arrival as a promotion expert and now finds himself fielding questions about relegation, we can guess the answer.

Luhukay doesn’t hide behind excuses, but he mentions two aspects of his brief stint that, in his view, explain the club’s predicament.

No respite

One is specific to Wednesday, the other a reflection of the English game. And the two are probably connected.

Mark Lawrenson’s response to the news that Wednesday had twelve players out injured was a throw-away, “Yeah, but how many of them are from the first team.” He said that live on air. Carpets across Sheffield still bear the stains of beer, tea and venom spluttered in response.

Lawro: a popular voice on BBC One last week

This time last year, the Owls had just thrashed Norwich 5-1 and lay in sixth place.

At least nine of the first-picks who had lifted us there are now ever-presents on the treatment table rather than the pitch. Some, it seems are running out of time to regain match fitness before this season of tears and torn tendons ends.

Injuries, then, are reason number one.

Reason number two is the non-stop conveyor belt of matches in the English game. Jos must have known about that beforehand, but the reality has taken him by surprise.

“[In Germany] normally we play from Saturday to Saturday and have training in the week… Sometimes four, five or six sessions.

“And [here] we have only two or one session before the next game.

“You have always the games, the games, the games… I like that we have a lot of games, but the big difference is we don’t have time to train.”

“Dancing with tears in my eyes, weeping for the memory of a life gone by”

The argument goes that between Saturday’s mauling in Bristol and Tuesday evening’s visit of Ipswich, Jos and his players are focussing more on recovery than improvement. And calling on their inner mental strength. “Confidence” and “strong minds” are needed to bounce back from losing to a better side.

Meanwhile, the team that couldn’t score still can’t score. And the early run of goalless draws now seems like the good old days for a side that has leaked eight in its past two league matches.

With eleven games to go, our end of season excitements will come from checking off the thirteen or so points we need to guarantee survival. Who’d have thought it?

With two crucial home matches to start the run-in, the fun begins on Tuesday evening.

Tuesday

Imagine.

You’re lying in intensive care.

Through the haze of your induced coma you hear a booming voice. Of all the people to pop their head around the curtain as you cling to life, it’s Mick McCarthy.

If Bristol City “made us nervous, losing the ball … so confidence goes down,” how does Jos rate the Tractor Boys?

Mick’s Ipswich side present our first opportunity to work towards that new safety target. We certainly haven’t taken many points off them in the past few seasons.

The boss has seen the videos and describes our visitors as a “a difficult team” with good structure and strikers. Gulp.

With little time to prepare his team, the message is about attitude above tactics. If all goes to plan, we can expect to see Wednesday imposing themselves – “taking the game from the first minute” – rather than sitting back.

“Fighting for everything,” he says.

If that’s the case, the virtuous circle of better defending and creating more chances will be completed by the fans stepping up to create a good atmosphere – “the helping hand behind the team,” as Jos describes it.

From JL’s perspective Tuesday is all about the new – a new challenge, a new game, a new chance.

Let’s see if we can breathe some new life into our season and start planning for a healthier future.

Succeed, and Wednesday will be presented with one of two excellent looking ties.

The home draw is confirmed, ensuring either Swansea City or Wednesday will welcome Tottenham Hotspur or Rochdale.

Of course, with a replay at White Hart Lane on Wednesday, Poch’s men are favourites to progress.

Tottenham Hotspur – one of the most attractive sides in the land, their visit would be a memorable occasion.

With a second-place Premier League finish available, and a European Cup quarter final hiding behind Juventus, might they have bigger fish to fry?

Their third tier opponents are marooned at the bottom of the table, albeit holding at least three games in hand over their rivals. This cup run is providing a welcome distraction from a probable return to the fourth tier.

So we have a third tier side for whom the quarter finals *should* be a step too far, or the big-hitters for whom a semi-final date at Wembley would not hold the same allure, it being their home stadium.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Standing in the way of all those possibilities, of course, are Swansea City.

Swansea City Reserves. Against Sheffield Wednesday Reserves.

Freddy Venancio battles with Luciano Narsingh in the first leg (walesonline.co.uk)

We’ve seen that the Magic of the Cup is alive and well in recent seasons, taking stories from Bradford, Coventry, Lincoln and Rochdale.

It’s unlikely that the BBC cameras will witness any sorcery in this one.

Sure, a Wednesday win would represent an upset, and bless us with a victory over a former manager, but the fixture will drift out of national conscience before the morning headlines.

It would be irresponsible to think that Wednesday are out of trouble at the bottom end of the Championship; had the club picked up a few more points since the new manager’s arrival, then Jos Luhukay could afford to be more liberal with his selection against the Swans.

Carlos Carvalhal has become a celebrity in his short stay in the Premier League, serving up more intriguing food metaphors for the national press to gorge themselves on.

CC – now baffling brains in the Premier League

His team have undoubtedly responded to their new boss but were played off the park at Brighton on Saturday and, like Wednesday, conceded four goals.

With as many as ten teams threatened by relegation from the Premier League, and Swansea still very much in the bottom three, Carlos will be aware that continuing to pick up points in February and March could make their April and May much easier.

As such, could we see him rest his key men too?

With West Ham due at the Liberty on Saturaday, you’d think so.

Wednesdaywere impressive in spells against Villa and showed plenty of heart in a losing performance.

Very basic defensive mistakes continue to haunt The Owls, with four avoidable goals conceded to Steve Bruce’s side.

Wednesday’s play, for the most part, was encouraging. Chances were created, we saw two lovely goals and the woodwork struck twice, while some frantic Villa defending kept the home tally down on more than one occasion.

Lucas Joao puts Wednesday 2-1 up

Joey Pelupessy was battling in midfield against much superior opposition, Lucas Joao enjoyed another good performance; Sean Clare’s enterprise and excellent goal demonstrated he has promise at this level.

Promise – he is not ready, as his manager has highlighted – he was partially at fault for at least one Villa goal.

4-2 reflects the entertainment value of the game but not the pattern of play, nor some questionable referring.

Despite it all, I felt there was more to appreciate in aspects of this Wednesday performance.

Many more stuck around after the final whistle to applaud a losing side than we’ve often see celebrate 1-0 wins over the last twelve months.

Swansea suffered a 4-1 defeat at the Amex.

Such is the tight nature of the Premier League’s bottom half – the win propelled Brighton to 12th while a Swansea win would have seen them leapfrog their opponents.

Carvalhal – wait for it – shouldered some of the blame in his post-match comments, acknowledging his changes came to early and resulted in Albion extending their lead.

This was Swansea’s first defeat in ten games.

A second in eleven would be most welcome.

LAST 5

Villa (H)

Millwall (A)

Swansea (H)

Derby (H)

Barnsley (A)

WEDNESDAY

L 2-4

L 1-2

D 0-0

W 2-0

D 1-1

LAST 5

Brighton (A)

Wednesday (A)

Burnley (H)

Notts Co. (H)

Leicester (A)

SWANSEA

L 1-4

D 0-0

D 0-0

W 8-1

D 1-1

HEAD 2 HEAD

WEDNESDAY WINS

SWANSEA WINS

DRAWS

12

5

12

LAST MEETING

Wednesday 0-0 Swansea

17th February 2018, Hillsborough, Att: 19, 427

Carlos Carvalhal suggested that both managers would have preferred a penalty shootout to a replay after the Hillsborough stalemate.

Chances were at a premium for both sides, Swansea came closest with a first half header from Mike van der Hoorn which was wonderfully tipped over the bar by Cameron Dawson.

Wednesday had one good chance before the break, Adam Reach raced through and forced a save from Kristoffer Nordfelt. Opportunities fell to Reach and Nuhiu in the second half, Nuhiu in particular demonstrating his bemusingly good feet to lose the Swansea defender.

Carvalhal’s introduction of Nathan Dyer, Jordan Ayew and Sam Clucas did little to tip the balance to the away side which ensured we’d head to the Liberty for a replay.

THE LUHUKAY STARS…

Jos confirmed that Liam Palmer and Almen Abdi will return to the squad this week.

Ross Wallace is seeing a specialist in London to find out if he requires surgery on a knee injury.

It would be lovely to see Sean Clare given another opportunity, but the experience of David Jones and Jacob Butterfield waits in the wings. Both players need minutes, and positive performances.

Jordan Thorniley could return to the bench following his concussion at Millwall.

Freddie Nielsen, Ash Baker, Connor O’Grady and Connor Kirby will also be hoping to make the squad.

Could Hirst Jnr feature on the bench?

DAWSON

VENANCIO

PUDIL

FOX

PALMER

JONES

PELUPESSY

CLARE

BOYD

NUHIU

JOAO

KEY PLAYERS

DANIEL PUDIL – Our most experienced defender, often a stabilising presence, would put his head in a blender.

He bears little resemblance to the marauding full-back that initially joined on loan from Watford, but he still has several attributes to offer this mismatch of a side.

His recent appearances have been littered with silly fouls (given, in the case of the Snodgrass penalty; not given, the blatant push on Abraham in the first leg). He has to be the leader in that back three and make Wednesday impenetrable if we are to have a hope of progressing.

Wednesday have been really ineffective in defending set-pieces of late, in stark contrast to their constant threat from dead balls at the other end of the pitch.

Pudil has to take charge of his teammates when the ball is to be whipped in to the Wednesday box.

KI SUNG-YEUNG – A soon to be free agent who has already been linked with AC Milan.

Not bad work, if you can get it.

Ki is a lovely player to watch, gliding effortlessly across the pitch and pulling opponents apart with his own positioning and sumptuous range of passing.

Should Swansea go with a similar eleven to the first leg – with Ki and Tom Carroll in the centre of midfield – then Wednesday must look to overpower the home side with their central three.

THE BETTING BOX: 5 OF THE BEST

BET

WednesdayWIN

Swansea WIN

DRAW

1-2

Under 2.5

BEST ODDS

9/2

4/5

12/5

16/1

14/19

BOOKIES

UniBet

HUGH’S VERDICT – The replay will play out in exactly the same way as the first leg.

Changed sides = slow start.

Slow start = few chances.

Few chances = home fans’ frustration?

Let’s hope so. Wednesday’s chances of progressing increase dramatically if we can keep Swansea frustrated during the first half.

One thing is for certain, Carlos will be watchful of his opponents. This we know from experience.

If you’re watching on TV, maybe Alan Titchmarsh’s Secrets of the National Trust will be more compelling until 9pm.

Let’s keep in mind the potential prize: either the most straightforward quarter final draw or the biggest cup fixture at Hillsborough in years.

The game might struggle to keep you awake, until the prize moves into full view.

The young keeper talks about “the feel-good factor” and an FA Cup run breeding confidence. Luhukay is still gazing into the half-emptiness of his weekend.

In a mark of our reduced circumstances and expectations, Saturday’s loss against Aston Villa is being described in positive terms by many fans.

The chit chat as we left the ground was of Sean Clare’s performance, Adam Reach’s leadership, the odd grumble about why Jos hadn’t used any subs and, of course, the referee.

The man in black – or on this occasion claret – took a pasting during and after the game.

He was even wearing our opponents’ colours! Which is obviously what you would do if you were up to some cloak and dagger monkey work.

The good things about Saturday included the buzz from a 28,000 crowd, and the scoreboard before Glen Whelan knocked in the inevitable goal-by-a-former-player for Villa’s equaliser.

I wonder if the FA would consider a match equivalent to ‘cash out’ bets?

Each manager could have say five games a season where they can call time before the final whistle and take the result as it stands. If Jos had held up his joker on the touchline at 66 minutes we’d have moved up a couple of places in the table and confirmed his belief that Wednesday perform well against top six sides.

People laughed when Jimmy Hill first suggested three points for a win. Just saying.

Honest appraisal

Jos: strikers could have done better

Losing a 2-1 lead and going on to a 2-4 defeat has the Owls teetering on the edge of a relegation fight. And it was all the ref’s fault, wasn’t it?

No. Jos wasn’t buying the “alibi” of blaming the officials.

In a marked difference to his predecessor’s protective approach, JL shared a matter-of-fact appraisal of his team’s weaknesses. Dropping three points was entirely down to our players.

The strikers weren’t let off the hook – “We had good chances to go further ahead before half time… We had the best chances but at the end you must score… Disappointing.”

Nor was the defence – failing to “control and clear the situation” at the set pieces that led to Villa’s goals. “Frustrating.”

Even the lad we were all raving about post-match was given a reality check on his performance.

In his manager’s eyes, Sean Clare has a lot to learn.

Yes, he scored a goal but “it was his man who scored [Villa’s] third goal… He must fight stronger [in defence].”

“We had the opportunity to win and we have not done that,” he says. “It hurts today from Saturday.”

From a fans point of view, Saturday provided the sort of energetic, attacking and even entertaining display we haven’t seen much of this season.

But Jos is paid to look at the detail, spot the faults and fix them. He doesn’t have to wait long for his next opportunity.

Tuesday

After that first FA Cup stalemate against Swansea, Carlos suggested the managers should be given an option to go straight to penalties rather than go to a replay.

There’s possibly more chance of that being adopted than the ‘cash out when you’re winning’ idea. In the meantime, the rule is you play again…

Does the prospect of a home quarter final against Tottenham (or Rochdale) outweigh the focus on league survival?

Given both clubs are flirting with relegation, Jos and Carlos will be facing similar questions and internal dialogues about how much importance to give Tuesday’s tie.

Wish you were (anywhere but) here?

Jos dismisses suggestions the Cup may be a distraction, without much conviction.

Three times he has the chance to make an unqualified statement, two times he fluffs it. At the third attempt he just seems to have had enough.

First pass. Cup game observations followed by “but the focus is on Saturday at Bristol City.” Whoops. Have another go.

Second shot. “We have a very good eye on tomorrow [pause] but it is not the same as the Championship.” Ok. Don’t forget ‘the magic of the Cup’ and all that. Let’s have one more try.

Third and final effort. “We [try to win] every game, so why would we not do that tomorrow?”

Luhukay’s true intent will be clearer when the team is announced.

A big opportunity

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for some rattle and scarf mojo, Cameron Dawson is your man.

Dawson – hoping to repeat his clean sheet performance from the first leg

The youngster who kept three clean sheets (and let in one fluke) in the previous rounds is definitely up for the Cup. “The chance of being in the FA Cup quarter finals means a lot,” he says, describing the cup run as “a nice distraction.”

Displaying admirable loyalty to his former boss, Cammy notes he will always be grateful to Carvalhal for showing confidence in him and giving him his debut.

But he adds with a grin, it would be good to “dump Carlos out of the Cup!”

Will his new manager enhance this prospect by fielding his strongest eleven, or revert to the Millwall Arrangement?

Either way, let’s hope the Owls travelling back from the Liberty Stadium on a snowy, sub-zero February night will be sharing Dawson’s sunny outlook.

With three crucial league games coming up in quick succession, a morale boosting performance wouldn’t go amiss.

An introduction to our new boss at the turn of the year was my last piece.

Maybe it’s a bit of apathy creeping in as the season limps towards the inevitable conclusion of 16th place?

Anyways, here we are. Late February, mid table, early bar.

A good football chat as always, dragging up past memories… all part of the continuing football education of Tom.

Matches against Villa are always special for me. After all, the Atkinson saga happened just as I was seriously getting into football.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d had a season ticket for a few years before. I remember the 1984 team photo on my wall and my early hero worship of Gary Bannister.

I remember seeing the club relegated against Forest. The cup semi against Chelsea.

VILLA MEMORIES

All part of a Wednesday education that led me to the first game of the 91/92 season, stood with my 13 year old mates right at the front of the ‘Barmy Army’ pen at the back of the Kop.

Big Ron and his Big Ron coat and Big Ron glasses

I’d never stood up there before, my dad always preferring to be closer to the action, but I relished the atmosphere, the concentration of bodies, the noise.

It was our first game back in the big time after a season that saw us win promotion, win the League Cup and also run away with the Pontins’ Reserve League.

This season’s team photo saw Trevor Francis sat front row centre with two (count them) TWO bits of silverware at his feet… both won under the leadership of the day’s focus of attention, Ron ‘Judas’ Atkinson.

And when Hirst cut in from the right wing and lashed a screamer that bent three ways and then damn near ripped through the roof of the net, I had my first taste of what it was like to be in the Barmy Army.

The surge, the mayhem… ‘limbs’ they call it nowadays.

The rest of the game is a blur, but since then I’ve always loved games against Villa.

Team news pinged through as we began our second pint.

PRE-MATCH

A return, more or less, to the team that did so well against Derby. Sean Clare back in the starting eleven, Boyd back in at left wing back, two actual strikers starting.

We discussed the merits of various players and conversation turned to Venancio. It has to be said, he’d been largely a success since coming in from the cold.

A few costly mistakes, yes. But bear in mind he’d been lacking match practice after a barren start to the season.

It was mentioned how he’s the kind of player who has a little more confidence in his own ability than is warranted. Trying the occasional Cruyff turn on the edge of the box, carrying the ball way out of defence before getting a nose bleed.

“He’s good, but he’s no Majid Bougherra”

“Now there’s a player…”

Tom: “Who?”

Magic Madjid in national team colours

A brief conversation about the mini-legend of Majid ensued… Tom hanging on nearly every word.

How commanding he was, what a presence, what a talent, what a song we had for him, what a big headed t**t he was.

This was a player who had his own website long before the days where every single player worth his salt had a twitter/insta/fb profile.

A player who conducted a survey on his website (while he was still a Wednesday player) about whether he should sign for Everton (who wanted him as a midfielder) or Charlton.

Charlton won the bidding war… I know, sounds crazy doesn’t it… and we spent the money wisely in bringing in Leon Clarke if I remember rightly.

Tom: “But why was Leon Clarke so rubbish for us?” We talked sports psychology for a little while.

Not so magic: Big Leon back in 2010

About how big Leon needs the perfect blend of motivation, man-management, form, confidence and game time to be a success

And while he was at Wednesday there was always at least one element of that lacking. Tom soon got bored talking about Leon Clarke and instead asked why the bubbles in cola are different to the bubbles in beer…

I bet he wishes he’d have been more interested in the psychology of a Wednesday anti-legend, as he was treated to a chemistry lesson for the next 5 minutes.

We left the pub in good spirits, and a little later than normal.

We could hear the crowd from right up outside the Horse and Jockey. Tom was worried that we’d miss the kick off.

“Nah, we’ll be fine. Even if we do, all you’ll miss is the first throw in of the game after the ball is passed back to Fox and he hoofs it up to Nuhiu, who won’t connect, and the ball will bounce out of play.”

We did make it in time as it happens (Fact banked: you can make it from the Horse and Jockey and into your seat at the ground in 12 minutes).

This may have been helped by the switching of ends, Wednesday kicking towards the Kop in the first half.

THE MATCH

The game started brightly, a real end to end affair. Both sets of fans in fine voice. This was a proper match, between proper clubs.

I was enjoying a game of football for the first time in a very long time.

Actually enjoying it. Weird.

Early on there were signs that referee Neil Swarbrick was having a game of funny buggers, allowing us to play “advantage” when the ball dropped to one of our players’ feet in our own penalty area and under pressure instead of blowing the bloody whistle.

Glenn Whelan, another blast from the past, was having a quiet but tidy game in front of the Villa back line.

Whelan: another blast from the past

Snodgrass was getting a deserved pantomime villain’s reception.

His ties to Leeds and Hull, plus his hypocritical remarks about Forestieri’s honesty not easily forgotten by the home fans. But what a left peg he has on him.

A few early chances came and went before a lovely bit of play saw us take the lead.

A ball worked in from the left was chested down by Nuhiu into the path of Clare who confidently hit the ball first time and tucked it inside the keepers left hand post.

His first goal for the club, and richly deserved.

It’s great to see a youngster come into the side with such confidence and composure. He reminds me a little of Chris Bart-Williams. Great with the ball at his feet, turns and runs his way out of trouble rather than panicking, a little bit of flair about him, but a good work ethic too.

A first goal for Sean Clare, and a lovely finish it was too

Villa were soon back in the game.

A soft free kick awarded to Snodgrass who had fallen over his own shadow saw him take the free kick himself, causing havoc in the Owls defence.

Wildsmith made a superb double save, but couldn’t manage the triple as Grabban grabbed the equaliser, prodding in from close range.

Clare was coming more into the game and forced a couple of saves, his confidence clearly building.

Joao: another Hillsborough goal

It really was a smashing game of football.

Wednesday have clearly been doing some work on set pieces as a succession of corners brought a few good chances, most notably a little one-two routine between Clare and Reach seeing the latter breaking into the box and creating a chance or two, one of which forced a save, another seeing Boyd hit the upright.

So when a third corner in quick succession was awarded Villa were set up well expecting the same routine.

However, this time Reach went old school and whipped the ball in first time, Joao meeting the cross sublimely to head us back into a half time lead.

HT – Wednesday 2-1 Villa

The concourse was full of grins at half time.

I bumped into James Marriott of the Wednesday Week… “What a first half that was!” he remarked. I couldn’t disagree.

It was a game living up to its billing.

The second half kicked off with the same intensity, however chances seemed at more of a premium in the early stages.

Clare again went on a few decent runs.

A few more odd decisions from Swarbrick was starting to rile the home fans, most notably when John Terry took Nuhiu’s legs when he was through on goal.

Well, not necessarily through on goal as it was on the half way line… and it was Nuhiu.

Terry: hacked down Nuhiu but escaped punishment (Daily Star)

Even so, he was the last man and could have easily seen red from a less partisan ref… he was even wearing Villa claret for heaven’s sake.

The tide was turning and soon Villa had their second equaliser of the game.

Snodgrass (agaaaiiin) being allowed way too much time and space to pick out Whelan with a pinpoint cross, the former Owls favourite neatly nodding home in front of the fans who used to adore him.

He did the dutiful thing and refused to celebrate, jogging back to the halfway line but accepting the high five’s of team mates.

This spurred Wednesday into life again.

Nuhiu forced a save with an angled drive, and a goalmouth scramble following another brush with the woodwork agonisingly came to nothing.

Some might say what happened in the final five minutes was inevitable.

It’s what teams at the top do.

Firstly Hourihane hit a lovely half volley to gain the lead for Villa for the first time in the game and with only a few minutes remaining. To be fair I think it was his first meaningful contribution.

At this point Tom turned to me in disappointment, possibly influenced by the hoards of fans now suddenly leaving the ground, and asked if we could leave.

He got a stern “no!” – this team have played really well today and you’ll clap them off the pitch. So we stayed.

Wednesday huffed and puffed a little, but the game was lost.

The afternoon wouldn’t be complete though without the pantomime villain “winning” himself a penalty by running into Pudil and then falling over.

Snodgrass, here in his Hull days, winning a penalty by means of simulation. Don’t forget to criticise other players for simulation though, Snoddy! (101greatgoals)

Of course he took the penalty himself.

Of course he scored.

FULL TIME – Wednesday 2-4 Villa

The full time whistle blew and I stayed longer than usual to applaud the players, partly to prove a point to Tom.

I honestly enjoyed that game more than I have some 1-0 victories. It was a great match, between two great clubs.

People may argue that the ref spoilt it, but I’m not looking for excuses or blame today.

I’m just happy to have been to a match that brought back the same kind of excitement as I used to feel back in the day stood at the back of the kop with my school mates.

We lost that game too after being ahead – a former player scoring against us to boot, but it was still a great game.

This season is basically over for us, but if I can enjoy the final few games as much as I have done this game, then I’ll be happy.

]]>http://www.owlsalive.com/rambles/2018/02/25/ramble-wednesday-2-4-villa/feed/0PREVIEW | Wednesday -v- Villahttp://www.owlsalive.com/match-previews/2018/02/23/preview-wednesday-v-villa/
http://www.owlsalive.com/match-previews/2018/02/23/preview-wednesday-v-villa/#respondFri, 23 Feb 2018 11:04:03 +0000http://www.owlsalive.com/?p=20206In the Derby County preview, I wrote, ‘It’s difficult to see where that first league victory will come for Jos Luhukay, in truth.’

The Rams duly arrived at Hillsborough and performed like every other poorly organised crop of mid-table division filler that English football has ever seen.

So, in a very obvious repetition and clear attempt to tempt fate:

It’s difficult to see where the next victory for will come Jos Luhukay, in truth.

Aston Villa are the antagonists this time.

Aston Villa, and their frustratingly successful arch-nemesis of a manager.

Aston Villa, and their Championship Galacticos (not a hint of irony, no sirree).

Aston Villa, Prepared. Pfft.

Once again I find myself considering the return fixture and the very little resemblance that this Wednesday team will share with the side that took to the Villa Park field.

Was that game this season? Are we sure?

Barry Bannan (who?) prancing around midfield. Gary Hooper (who?) shoving his fantastic arse into John Terry and knocking him flying. Jacob Butterfield sitting at the base of midfield in schooling Glenn Whelan in the art (really?).

Wednesday have won just twice in the Championship since November 4th, the game that was supposed to mark the beginning of our ascent back into the top six.

Rhodes makes it 2-0 in November

Football tends not to work to scripts as we know, and a run of four draws followed by three consecutive defeats saw Carlos Carvalhal depart the club on Christmas Eve.

Jos Luhukay has arrived and delivered precisely five points from seven games, with a bit of cup progress thrown in to lift spirits.

There is no doubt that, despite a couple of players finding form and the team delivering the odd promising performance, that this club is still too close to the relegation zone to put our feet up and light a Montecristo.

Do we take solace in the fact that our best performances have been reserved for sides in the top six, who were are unbeaten against under Jos?

It’s certainly not worth considering our winless record against sides in the bottom six.

Millwall celebrate

Wednesdayfielded an interesting strikerless eleven against Millwall in midweek.

And that, as opposed to the fact that the Owls’ defence persistently gave the ball away or, in the case of the first Millwall goal, elected to not mark a 6ft 5 defender, has been identified as the sole reason for defeat.

Naturally, not fielding a centre-forward will always cause a stir, and Wednesday did lack any sort of presence up front.

With a 1-0 lead after 45, thanks to an absolute beauty from Joey Pelupessy – where did that come from – surely the introduction of Atdhe Nuhiu to retain possession, or Lucas Joao to stretch the game would have been wise?

Alas not, and the aforementioned defensive mistakes saw the lead quickly turned on its head.

We have to talk about Glenn.

For so long the captain has been a rock at the heart of the Wednesday defence. Always prone to the odd mistake – once in eight or ten games, perhaps – he now looks a shadow of his former imperious self.

The mistakes come often, in dangerous positions.

His edginess and general propensity to blunder has created a nervousness in those around him.

His two performances against Millwall go some way to characterising his season. Remember the missed challenge for their goal at Hillsborough? The one where he had the chance to clear man and ball, failed to connect with either, and fell to the floor? Yeah, that one. A season reduced to a two-second cameo.

How on earth do we inspire better from our captain? The man who should be leading this team by example.

I have stared at my screen for ten minutes, written sentences, erased them, written new lines, erased them, considered the meaning of life, and the meaning of Jacob Butterfield. I’ve given it much thought. And I don’t know.

We could do with this Loovens back, please.

Best wishes to Jordan Thorniley, as an aside, the defender spent the night in hospital after quite literally putting his head in the way of a Millwall forward’s boot.

I really like Thorniley and look forward to him featuring in the side in the future. Get the kid on loan to a promising League One outfit next term.

While Wednesday have won twice since the return fixture with Villa, our visitors have lost on just four occasions.

They are winless in two however – oh, the crisis! – having suffered defeat at Craven Cottage before being held at home by Preston.

Snodgrass: one Villa dangerman

North End took the lead in the first half as a half-cleared corner kick fell to Tom Barkhuizen, whose clever overhead kick could only be parried into the Holte End goal by Sam Johnstone.

Villa could have been further behind had either of Paul Huntington’s header or Callum Robinson’s shot gone in.

Lewis Grabban – oh, he’s there now? – equalised from the penalty spot just after the hour. This gave the home side the momentum heading into the final twenty minutes as Grabban, Davies and Snodgrass all had chances to win the game.

LAST 5

Millwall (A)

Swansea (H)

Derby (H)

Barnsley (A)

Birmingham (H)

WEDNESDAY

L 1-2

D 0-0

W 2-0

D 1-1

L 1-3

LAST 5

Preston (H)

Fulham (A)

Birmingham (H)

Burton (H)

United (A)

VILLA

D 1-1

L 0-2

W 2-0

W 3-2

W 1-0

HEAD 2 HEAD

WEDNESDAY WINS

VILLAWINS

DRAWS

53

66

17

LAST MEETING

Villa 1-2 Wednesday

4th November 2017, Villa Park, Att: 33, 154

Adam Reach scored the quickest goal of the Championship season as he rifled home a dipping half-volley from fully 30 yards.

Wednesday never looked back, easily producing their performance of the season. Eye-catching football, organised defensive work, even the caricatures of Wednesday’s later demise received glowing reports.

Bannan and Hooper moved Villa around almost at will during the first forty-five. Jordan Rhodes finished off a lovely team goal, a one touch move featuring the aforementioned creative duo was laid on a plate for the Scotland international who passed the ball into the bottom corner.

It was all very lovely, to be quite honest.

Reach lashes home the first

Villa were kept at bay for almost the entire duration, until Big Chris Samba tucked away in the sixth minute of added on time.

Carlos Carvalhal said after the game, “We know we can challenge for the play-offs. The quality of our play should ensure we are challenging at the end of the season.”

THE LUHUKAY STARS…

After midweek rests, Nuhiu, Joao and Reach are in line for returns to the starting eleven.

Tom Lees played again for the Development Squad this week as he nears a return to the first team. Barry Bannan is back training, Gary Hooper and Almen Abdi are also nearing returns.

The manager revealed that George Hirst is slowly being welcomed back into the fold. Who knows what work is going on behind the scenes but the whole sorry episode, if resolvable, needs to be consigned to the past as quickly as possible.

Whatever the cause of the dispute, wasting the entire season of our most promising young player in years will not reflect well on the club.

I’m yet to see a call for his immediate first team call up, so here goes: get him in the side, NOW.

Looking for financial support to conduct an in-depth study into the correlation between #swfc results and 'give George Hirst a game' tweets

KEY PLAYERS

Joao: back in the fold on Saturday?

LUCAS JOAO – Joao is a curious footballer. Capable of anonymity and the extraordinary. A full Portuguese international who has been absent against third and fourth tier opposition in his time at Wednesday.

Lucas had a run in the side, now over two years ago, where the sky really looked the limit.

A menace to every defence, goals from all angles, a full cap for his country.

Then, along with his tooth of mythical power, he sort of… disappeared.

A succession of expensive forwards have been brought into replace him. But he offers something different to any player in the Wednesday squad.

He can combine a trick with a turn of pace, he can stretch defences both vertically and horizontally.

Derby manager Gary Rowett hailed his two-goal match-winning performance as the best he had seen from a forward this season.

Evidently a player who needs the carrot rather than the stick, let’s hope Luhukay has realised and can continue to draw the best out of him towards the end of the season.

Joao’s goals have the potential to make the end of this season much more comfortable.

Good on the ball, gets forward, tracks back, provides assists, good at set-pieces…

Ever wonder if we signed the wrong Barnsley player?

THE BETTING BOX: 5 OF THE BEST

BET

WednesdayWIN

Derby WIN

DRAW

0-0

Joao anytime

BEST ODDS

9/4

6/4

11/5

12/1

19/5

BOOKIES

Will Hill

UniBet

HUGH’S VERDICT – Probably another draw,Villa haven’t really looked their potent selves of late, and Wednesday do seem to have a knack of raising their game against better opposition.

Let’s return to tempting fate. Here’s something I wrote ahead of our last home league game, as an elusive win evaded us:

‘Stranger things have happened, but surely it will not come against Derby County [Aston Villa]… cut out the mistakes and do the basics right. If every player puts in a good individual performance, we have a chance.’

Sitting back with a weakened defence seemed risky. Either way, the opportunity to build a more comfortable gap between the Owls and the drop zone was lost.

Many a wiseacre suggests Jos would have been better off resting players on Saturday against third-placed Villa rather than dropping points against mid-table Millwall.

The manager doesn’t agree, reminding us we have taken four points from top sixers Cardiff and Derby, as well as holding Premiership (just) Swansea in the FA Cup.

Which is true. But we’ve also dropped points to trapdoor botherers Birmingham and Barnsley.

So, what’s it all about? Jos seems mildly surprised at the inquisition.

“When you win, this question is not coming,” he says. Had his team held onto their one-goal lead in the second half, the line of questioning might have been about a tactical masterstroke. But they didn’t, so it wasn’t.

The list of the crocked now stands at twelve, “ten from the first eleven” he says.

Rushing players like Joost van Aken and Barry Bannan back into the team too soon could set back their recovery.

Should professional footballers be fit enough to play more than once a week? Carlos often stated that Lucas João simply didn’t have the energy levels to follow a match on Saturday with another three days later.

Maybe so, but Jos would also rather not risk further strains and injuries, which is why key performers João, Reach and Nuhiu sat out most of the game on Tuesday.

João, who has blossomed under new management, came on with just 18 minutes left to turn his two goals under Luhukay to three.

And then there’s the impact of a crowded fixture list.

Joao: back in the fold on Saturday?

The replay with Swansea introduces a fifth game in a busy fortnight.

Not ideal when the boss is trying to protect young players from fatigue and manage the squad’s overall fitness.

It’s hard not to sympathise with a new coach trying to instil tactics and confidence when the time sequence is match day, rest day, training day, match day…

Where are we going?

This season is triggering flashbacks of the Hoover ‘free flights’ promotion.

Remember? Summary: simply buy a Hoover and you will be given free flights to the USA.

In the time it took me to nip out and purchase said domestic appliance the offer had been changed.

Due to ‘unexpected’ demand for free transatlantic travel, the flights were now restricted to Europe.

You still had to buy the Hoover.

So, I flew to Vienna. It wasn’t my first choice but by now it was the only route available. And it was free.

Thanks to Hoover I saw Austria (very clean) and possessed a vacuum cleaner with the suction power of a mouse with a straw (less clean).

“It means nothing to me, ohhhhhhh Vienna”

Back in S6 we have previously been encouraged to make a speculative investment on multi-year season tickets.

Summary: simply buy one and you will be transported to the Premiership in Wednesday’s centenary season.

Sounded great but… due to the unexpected cancellation of boarding passes for the top flight, we are now being pitched another five-year deal which according to the official website, “remains irrespective of the division in which Wednesday are plying their trade.”

So, for example, if the Owls are playing in the top tier in year five, you could be watching Premier League football at Hillsborough in 2022/23 for less than you pay for Championship football now!”

It’s actually not a bad deal; a Dyson rather than a Hoover, you might say. But you can’t help wondering whether we’ll be trade plying in the USA, Vienna or Walsall.

Saturday

The first press pass of the season touted Aston Villa as promotion contenders under the management of our nemesis, Steve Bruce.

Then came November, a trip to Villa Park, goals by Reach and Rhodes, three points to the Owls. Blimey.

Villa didn’t let that defeat disturb their steady rise up the table. And we didn’t use it as a springboard into the top six.

Was this moment actually this season? Are we sure? It does not feel like it.

Now lying third, Brucie’s team remain a good bet – “One of the clubs with a chance to go up to the Premier League” according to Jos and the bookies.

We know we are in for a tough match.

Jos expects a “hard and intensive” 90 minutes.

I’m not sure fans need their expectations managed on this one but, just in case, he offered the insight that “it will be very hard work on Saturday to come to a good result.”

Before we slump under a cloud of despondency, remember we’ll always have Derby.

As the boss says, in his first six weeks at the helm he has learned “in this league you can beat teams in the top or lose to teams at the bottom.”

Perhaps we’ll never understand what was going on at Millwall. Hopefully come May it won’t matter.

Time to bounce back?

Jos is learning, his players are learning. And as fans we maybe have to learn too.

To have more patience with a young squad and new manager. To keep a sense of perspective about the reality of Wednesday’s position in the football firmament vs our dreams of glory. And to support our team wherever it takes us (though I’d rather not go back to Walsall, I know I will if absolutely necessary).

Jos has asked the fans to create an atmosphere on Saturday to help his rag tag eleven against “a very strong team”.

It’s difficult to see where that first league victory will come for Jos Luhukay, in truth.

While acknowledging the obvious caveat that this current crop bear little resemblance to a full-strength side, this team is what we have to deal with for now.

This is the team that is either going to distance itself from a relegation fight or slowly fall into the mire.

Some key individuals within this outfit are so bereft of confidence that only the latter vision of the future looks possible.

The team lacks any clear direction on the field and there is a very little leadership: problems which have blighted Wednesday all season but have become more profound as the technical standard of the team has dipped.

Individual errors are only contributing to the negative mood, with several more on display this Saturday for the Barnsley equaliser. Pelupessy caught on the wrong man. Missed tackles from Joao and Reach. More missed tackles from Jones and Venancio. A weak challenge from Palmer.

These are not traits indicative of a second string Championship team. They are a reflection of a team that has totally bottomed out.

Enter Derby County. Who’ve lost just once in their last nineteen against Wednesday.

Joe Wildsmith: back to his best at Barnsley

There’s a curious, warming sense of familiarity in walking up to Hillsborough in hope rather than expectation. This season – Wednesday reverting to type, namely not being very good at Association football – has almost felt like welcoming an old friend, or returning home after living away.

Any time we welcome Derby to Hillsborough we live in hope, but the two sides are so drastically far apart right now that it’s almost laughable to envisage a positive result and a blue and white goal fest.

One note of promise is that, under Luhukay’s guidance, Wednesday have saved their best performances for teams at the top end of the table.

Sheffield United, Cardiff – both goalless draws – the same result would suffice here, you’d think, but with an FA Cup date at the weekend, if Wednesday don’t secure a win soon it will be getting on for two months since the sweet nectar of league victory was tasted.

Wednesdayrecorded another draw on Saturday at Barnsley.

Bright spots included a return to form for Joe Wildsmith, another goal for Atdhe Nuhiu and the continuing promise of Jordan Thorniley in defence.

A makeshift backline, with David Jones splitting Thorniley and Federico Venancio initially looked comfortable. Venancio himself should have given Wednesday the lead, turning a free header wide at the back post.

Barnsley gained a head of steam but it was Wednesday who took the lead against the run of play, Lucas Joao was felled in the box and Atdhe Nuhiu calmly slotted away to make it four goals in six games.

1-0 Wednesday

Our joy was short-lived however as the aforementioned defending gave Oli McBurnie the opportunity to level things up.

Barnsley had the better chances to win the game, with Joe Wildsmith coming to the rescue on more than one occasion.

McBurnie saw a header smartly tipped over the bar, Tom Bradshaw had another effort saved, the former forced Wildsmith into a smart save down low.

David Jones was fortunate not give away a penalty during the second half for an infringement that looked at least as worthy of a spot kick as the foul that brought Joao down in the first half.

Wednesday came closest after the break thanks to a Joel Pelupessy cross-shot that evaded every man and, crucially, the far post.

Derby are flying at the moment and have moved to third place in the table. They are on a remarkable run, having lost just twice since our meeting in October. They have seven wins and five draws from their last twelve games.

Last time out the Rams laboured to a 1-1 home draw with Norwich.

Matej Vydra gave them an early lead – his sixteenth of the season – while James Maddison levelled with twenty minutes to go from the penalty spot.

The same player had earlier been involved in a contentious ‘did he or didn’t he dive?’ scenario that resulted in a missed penalty for the away side.

Naturally, Gary Rowett said it was a dive while Daniel Farke suggested it was a foul. Of course.

Rowett: Impressing at Derby (Image: dcfc.co.uk)

The Derby boss did acknowledge that his side were not at their best on Saturday, hinting that he expects improvements at Hillsborough.

“I was disappointed with that first penalty but had no problem with the second or that Norwich were better than us.

“I think today was the poorest we have been for a while and we were very fortunate to keep our unbeaten run going.”

LAST 5

Barnsley (A)

Birmingham (H)

Boro (A)

Reading (H)

Cardiff (H)

Carlisle (H)

WEDNESDAY

D 1-1

L 1-3

D 0-0

W 3-1

D 0-0

W 2-0

LAST 5

Norwich (H)

Brentford (H)

Millwall (A)

Bristol C (H)

Birmingham (A)

DERBY

D 1-1

W 3-0

D 0-0

D 0-0

W 3-0

HEAD 2 HEAD

WEDNESDAY WINS

DERBY WINS

DRAWS

43

51

39

LAST MEETING

Derby 2-0 Wednesday

21st October 2017, Whatever It’s Called These Days Stadium, Att: 27, 426

Wednesday played with ten men for almost the entire duration of this match as Glenn Loovens was sent off after four minutes.

The skipper’s deliberate foul on Vydra gave the same player the chance to open the scoring from the spot; he duly obliged.

Loovens’ first red of the season

Wednesday then rallied for the rest of the first half, with most of the good play (predictably) going through Hooper, Bannan and Lee. It was Steven Fletcher who had the best chance to equalise, brushing the outside of the post with a downward header and then also going to ground in the box following a push from Craig Forsyth.

Wednesday were denied a spot-kick which would have surely seen Forsyth given his marching orders.

The game became more stretched in the second period and Bradley Johnson added a second with a neat turn and finish to kill of any late Wednesday hopes.